Magnum Square Print Sale
My photo offered as a print and a list of favorite images from the sale (closes in 3 days)
Welcome to In the Flash, a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography.
Magnum runs a famous annual square print sale with photos from Magnum photographers starting at $100. This year, they partnered with Photo Society, inviting a few National Geographic photographers to participate, and I am one of them. The theme of the sale is Eden, and the description (somewhat pompously) says, “The collaboration explores the miraculous beauty and complexity of our planet’s landscapes, ecosystems, and people, while emphasizing the urgent need to protect them from an existential threat: humankind.” I don’t photograph landscapes, so instead I submitted an image of people on top of the Hudson observation deck with an electrified Manhattan blending into the twilight sky.
I took this photo as NYC experienced revival after the pandemic, with tourism picking back up and public spaces filling up with people. I saw the man sitting on a floor of the platform, with his back to the city behind him, and photographed this moment of stillness in the flurry of people.
The museum-quality 6x6 print can be ordered either framed or unframed. I am a bit late to announce this, so the sale closes in 3 days, this Sunday, 27th.
Check out the photo at the Magnum Square Print Sale
While I am not in love with the wording, the sale features work by many incredible photographers. My taste in photography skews towards documentary, fashion, and portraits, and I find myself indifferent towards epic landscapes and nature photos (Ansel Adams leaves me cold), so this is reflected in the selection.
Virtual Reality. Kazan, Russia, 2016 by Gerd Ludwig.
Bajo el sol (Under the sun). São Miguel, Azores, Portugal, 1996 by Cristina García Rodero
As Frozen Land Burns. Republic of Yakutia, Yakutsk, Russia, 2021 by Nanna Heitmann
Valdes Peninsula, Argentina, 2001 by Elliot Erwitt
Beirut, Lebanon, November 29, 2023 by Myriam Boulos
Iraqi tank, destroyed by US offensive. Kuwait, 1991 by Abbas
Find me on Instagram @dina_litovsky
I would love for more people to know about In the Flash. If you enjoyed reading this, please share!
Your newsletter is my favorite of all the photography ones. I really appreciate your honesty and the behind the scenes peeks at your career and projects.
Sometimes the lofty mission statements of a contest or workshop application dissuade me from submitting my work because I don’t think it’s serious” enough of doesn’t have a message of advocacy. Those things are important and needed in this world, but… I did feel a sense of relief reading that you weren’t a fan of the photo sale’s theme. Thank you.
I find the guy standing with hands on his hips looking down even more evocative, for some reason. What is he thinking? Who is he? Is he happy to be there, or sad that the noise and hubbub is back? He is an island amongst chaos.